RAF C-130J's to be retired early?
COMET Formation - C130s.
OMEN Formatation:
Last (?) Herc flight.
What a waste of UVTUR.
20,000ft though central Scotland. Hours flying over water.
Descent approaching the coast at low level into seagull territory
Bugger all track through Wales. Not a hint of flight through the South West - the old stomping grounds. Ego boosting burn-up of the Lake District.
Wasted flight hours over the wastelands of Lincolnshire et.c. too.
Lots of aviation that a BFTS stude would be 'strongly debriefed' about. .
IFR flying - I Follow Roads and Railways and Rivers.
Not a hint of weather avoidance required by way of an excuse..
Who planned this nonsense? OC Admin(?) - or was it perhaps a Stn Exec with bugger-all tac experience?
I was actually getting wound up just watching it on the FR24 website.
Why did they fix a takeoff time from EGVN rather than an overflight time at, say, RWB, or EGDL?
Also, why not publish an accurate planned route?
Were they booked into the UKLFS/LFAs (if such things still exist).
Grr.
Last (?) Herc flight.
What a waste of UVTUR.
20,000ft though central Scotland. Hours flying over water.
Descent approaching the coast at low level into seagull territory
Bugger all track through Wales. Not a hint of flight through the South West - the old stomping grounds. Ego boosting burn-up of the Lake District.
Wasted flight hours over the wastelands of Lincolnshire et.c. too.
Lots of aviation that a BFTS stude would be 'strongly debriefed' about. .
IFR flying - I Follow Roads and Railways and Rivers.
Not a hint of weather avoidance required by way of an excuse..
Who planned this nonsense? OC Admin(?) - or was it perhaps a Stn Exec with bugger-all tac experience?
I was actually getting wound up just watching it on the FR24 website.
Why did they fix a takeoff time from EGVN rather than an overflight time at, say, RWB, or EGDL?
Also, why not publish an accurate planned route?
Were they booked into the UKLFS/LFAs (if such things still exist).
Grr.
Wow!! 3 Hercs at low altitude just flew right over me sunbathing in my garden heading for Eastbourne.
Absolutely brilliant, and whizzing along I could almost see the smiles on the flight decks!!
Sorry the RAF have decided to disband 47 Sqdn and the Herc fleet, but PLEASE let them have a summer of beating up the UK as a farewell to a faithful friend
To the crews on board that trio, you have my thanks for making a lovely day wonderful.
Come back any time!
You were so low I couldn't see Nos 2 & 3 so was waving at the leader when you zoomed over, but the waves were meant for all of you!
Absolutely brilliant, and whizzing along I could almost see the smiles on the flight decks!!
Sorry the RAF have decided to disband 47 Sqdn and the Herc fleet, but PLEASE let them have a summer of beating up the UK as a farewell to a faithful friend
To the crews on board that trio, you have my thanks for making a lovely day wonderful.
Come back any time!
You were so low I couldn't see Nos 2 & 3 so was waving at the leader when you zoomed over, but the waves were meant for all of you!
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The flight of three flew over me soon after three. I don't expect to see another RAF Herc any time soon. Sad and sorry to see them go and I suppose the new Chief will soon be in the ministers office to tell him there is a capability gap in air transport. Thanks for the great spectacle this afternoon boys and girls.
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Two former Royal Air Force chiefs and a former Tory defence minister have condemned a cost-cutting decision to ditch a vital special forces aircraft as "perverse" and "extraordinary".
In a letter to The Times newspaper, also signed by other senior ex-commanders, they warned that the removal of the last of the 14-strong fleet of C-130J Hercules planes this month will leave a capability gap at a time of rising security risks.
A newer, larger fleet of aircraft - the Atlas A400M - is taking over the role but the RAF has admitted there will be temporary gaps in niche capabilities required by special forces.
Concerns have also been raised about the availability of the A400.
In their letter, Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns, Sir Gerald Howarth and the other signatories wrote: "Of the many cuts to our armed forces in recent years, one of the most perverse is the disposal of the RAF's remaining 14 C130 transport aircraft.
"At a time of great international tension, the decision to remove a proven and effective workhorse is extraordinary."
In an exclusive Sky News report last month, defence sources warned the UK will be left "dangerously exposed" when it cuts its C-130 fleet.
Internal documents revealed that the A400M was still plagued by problems, with two-thirds of the fleet listed as unavailable for flying missions in early May.
Three C-130 planes will conduct a farewell flypast across the UK on Wednesday.
The last public appearance of the iconic aircraft will be as part of a flypast on Saturday for the King's birthday. The RAF is selling the fleet to other nations as the aircraft still have years of flying time.
In a letter to The Times newspaper, also signed by other senior ex-commanders, they warned that the removal of the last of the 14-strong fleet of C-130J Hercules planes this month will leave a capability gap at a time of rising security risks.
A newer, larger fleet of aircraft - the Atlas A400M - is taking over the role but the RAF has admitted there will be temporary gaps in niche capabilities required by special forces.
Concerns have also been raised about the availability of the A400.
In their letter, Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns, Sir Gerald Howarth and the other signatories wrote: "Of the many cuts to our armed forces in recent years, one of the most perverse is the disposal of the RAF's remaining 14 C130 transport aircraft.
"At a time of great international tension, the decision to remove a proven and effective workhorse is extraordinary."
In an exclusive Sky News report last month, defence sources warned the UK will be left "dangerously exposed" when it cuts its C-130 fleet.
Internal documents revealed that the A400M was still plagued by problems, with two-thirds of the fleet listed as unavailable for flying missions in early May.
Three C-130 planes will conduct a farewell flypast across the UK on Wednesday.
The last public appearance of the iconic aircraft will be as part of a flypast on Saturday for the King's birthday. The RAF is selling the fleet to other nations as the aircraft still have years of flying time.
Former RAF chiefs blast 'perverse' decision to ditch C-130 special forces aircraft (msn.com)
The following 2 users liked this post by NutLoose:
Gave Scotland's Capital a total miss, along with that vibrant City in the North East, Newcastle !
This in favour of stooging about in partially inhabited areas well off the published track.
Question is, for whose benefit was this little show put on ??
This in favour of stooging about in partially inhabited areas well off the published track.
Question is, for whose benefit was this little show put on ??
Those at stations and locations closely associated with the Hercules, pretty obvious I would have thought.
Maybe a shame that Colerne, Thorney Island and Finningley weren’t included, but a pretty comprehensive route when all considered.
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EGSC
Sad flypast and the ehat haze was awful so I will share just a couple of images I took just earlier on the approach to 05 here at EGSC before heading to 10 at EGUN.
cheers
cheers
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OMEN Formatation:
Last (?) Herc flight.
What a waste of UVTUR.
20,000ft though central Scotland. Hours flying over water.
Descent approaching the coast at low level into seagull territory
Bugger all track through Wales. Not a hint of flight through the South West - the old stomping grounds. Ego boosting burn-up of the Lake District.
Wasted flight hours over the wastelands of Lincolnshire et.c. too.
Lots of aviation that a BFTS stude would be 'strongly debriefed' about. .
IFR flying - I Follow Roads and Railways and Rivers.
Not a hint of weather avoidance required by way of an excuse..
Who planned this nonsense? OC Admin(?) - or was it perhaps a Stn Exec with bugger-all tac experience?
I was actually getting wound up just watching it on the FR24 website.
Why did they fix a takeoff time from EGVN rather than an overflight time at, say, RWB, or EGDL?
Also, why not publish an accurate planned route?
Were they booked into the UKLFS/LFAs (if such things still exist).
Grr.
Last (?) Herc flight.
What a waste of UVTUR.
20,000ft though central Scotland. Hours flying over water.
Descent approaching the coast at low level into seagull territory
Bugger all track through Wales. Not a hint of flight through the South West - the old stomping grounds. Ego boosting burn-up of the Lake District.
Wasted flight hours over the wastelands of Lincolnshire et.c. too.
Lots of aviation that a BFTS stude would be 'strongly debriefed' about. .
IFR flying - I Follow Roads and Railways and Rivers.
Not a hint of weather avoidance required by way of an excuse..
Who planned this nonsense? OC Admin(?) - or was it perhaps a Stn Exec with bugger-all tac experience?
I was actually getting wound up just watching it on the FR24 website.
Why did they fix a takeoff time from EGVN rather than an overflight time at, say, RWB, or EGDL?
Also, why not publish an accurate planned route?
Were they booked into the UKLFS/LFAs (if such things still exist).
Grr.
It was the last hurrah, just let them crack on with it. I’ll bet a good few of those flying probably won’t sit in a military cockpit again, so cut them just a little slack will you?
The following 2 users liked this post by MG:
Somewhat closer to Colerne than Thorney. Back home to Fairford, looks like the focus was on former 47 bases hence Beverley, Topcliffe, Abingdon, Lyneham, and Fairford, after Topcliffe they could easily have routed over the Dishforth as well (another former home of 47).
Meanwhile C130J fleet taking shape for NZ, and maintainers for the C-130J-30s started training in the February at Little Rock AFB.
Meanwhile C130J fleet taking shape for NZ, and maintainers for the C-130J-30s started training in the February at Little Rock AFB.
Forces.Net has this lovely footage of the Mach Loop. Particularly sweet to see the shadows following them....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG1q5YkqGnM
airsound
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG1q5YkqGnM
airsound
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